Species library · Mushrooms
Xylaria polymorpha
Typically in season from May to December, peaking around May to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.
Photo: Светлана Царахова · CC0
Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak May to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.
Dead Man's Fingers is usually found in Woodland.
Similar species: Dead man's fingers (long-stemmed), Candlesnuff fungus, King Alfred's cakes. Only forage with a confident ID.
Open Dead Man's Fingers in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.
Dead Man's Fingers is generally in season from May to December, with its peak around May to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.
Dead Man's Fingers is usually found in Woodland.
Similar species: Dead man's fingers (long-stemmed), Candlesnuff fungus, King Alfred's cakes. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.
Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.
Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits
